The Italian Rêve – Met Gala Makeup 2019: The Looks We loved, Recounted by the Makeup Artists

It’s been almost a week from the fashion event of the year, the Met Gala, but the looks are still going strong. After seeing what they dressed, let’s find out the inspiration behind the makeup looks and what key products were used. How to discover that? We spoke with the masterminds behind the beauty looks, aka the makeup artists, no better way to find a new inspiration!

WHO: RACHEL BROSNAHAN

MUA: EMMA DAY

Inspiration

Erdem looked at previous makeup looks that I had done with Rachel and loved a particular look which he referenced to. He actually wanted a simpler beauty look than we had originally planned, as the dress was such a colorful show stopper. We decided on a purple/brown wet look eye – slightly sixties, with strip lashes and with those lovely Biba like shades. Erdem based his inspiration for the dress on a 60s Italian aristocrat and I wanted Rachel to have a rarefied polish to her look, like a young Italian Countess in her couture finest. Rachel’s skin is beautifully luminous and I played that up with how I prepped it, but Surratt’s foundation creates the most perfectly polished skin imaginable. Lips were a peach shade to work with the more intense eyes.

The Base

SURRATT Surreal Skin Foundation Wand in 2

SURRATT Perfectionist Concealer Palette in 2

SURRATT Tu Me Fais Rougir Artistique Blush

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The Lips

SURRATT Gamine Lip Slique

The Eyes

SURRATT Renard Roux Artistique Eye Shadow

SURRATT Poudre Artistique Eye Shadow

SURRATT Kira Kira Lid Lacquer

SURRATT Effervescence Inner Light Baton

SURRATT Autographic Eyeliner

SURRATT Vapeur Mauve Smokey Eye Baton

Your Beauty Secret to Share

I’m using Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream with a rose quartz Hayo beauty restorer and Drunk Elephant Marula oil for a mega glow on all my clients, and I did this on Rachel on Monday before makeup.

WHO: SOPHIE TURNER

MUA: GEORGIE EISDELL

Inspiration

Sophie’s awesome Louis Vuitton jumpsuit really was my inspiration. I wanted her to be camp, cool and sexy all at the same time. It was all about the eyes that night. Strong, bold and sexy.

Skincare

I prepared Sophie’s skin with IS clinical hydra cool serum then Goop’s revitalizing day moisturizer to prepare her skin for makeup.

The Base

Sophie has gorgeous skin so I didn’t need to use a lot of base. I used Armani’s luminous silk foundation #2 to even out the skin. I concealed with Cle de Peau in ivory.

I dusted a small amount of powder on the high planes of Sophie’s face with La Mer’s The Powder to take the edge off the shine.

I used a small amount of Laura Mercier’s blush in ginger on the apple of the cheek to give a naturally flushed look.

The Lips

Her lips we kept soft but with a hint of color. I used Chantecaille’s lipstick in agave to create the perfect pout.

The Eyes

The eyes were the main focus. I used Pat McGrath’s shadow in Lapis Luxury. I placed the shadow on her lid, bringing it up to her crease and then kept the look very defined. I extended the shadow out to create a strong cat eye and graphic shape.

I applied layers of Charlotte Tilbury’s full fat lashes mascara, making sure to push and wiggle the product into the lashes to make them full and fluffy.

I then added Ardell single lashes to really open up her eyes and make the lashes fluffier.

WHO: LUPITA NYONG’O

MUA: NICK BAROSE

Inspiration

For the MET Gala Camp theme this year, we drew inspiration from the makeup that drag-queen Divine wore in the iconic camp films of John Waters like, “Female Trouble,” “Pink Flamingos,” and “Hairspray.” The eyes and eyebrows are accentuated with a cartoon-vibe, making them look more than just a cat eye with something fun and over-the-top. I didn’t do it for fashion that night – I did it for Divine (and John Waters!).